Organic electroluminescent display device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed is prepared. An organic electroluminescent film 22 is formed with the inclusion of a common layer that continuously covers the plural pixel electrodes. A common electrode is formed on the organic electroluminescent film. The common layer is irradiated with an energy ray above areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes with the avoidance of irradiation above the plural pixel electrodes. An electric conductivity of the common layer is reduced above the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes, by irradiation of the energy ray. With this configuration, a current leakage can be prevented between the adjacent pixels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device, comprising the steps of:
 preparing a substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed; 
 forming an insulating layer in the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes so as to rest on ends of the respective pixel electrodes, 
 forming an organic electroluminescent film to rest on the insulating layer, with the inclusion of a common layer that continuously covers the plurality of pixel electrodes; 
 forming a common electrode on the organic electroluminescent film; and 
 irradiating the common layer with an energy ray above the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes with the avoidance of irradiation above the organic electroluminescent film, 
 wherein an electric conductivity of the common layer is reduced above the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes, by irradiation of the energy ray. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the common layer is irradiated with the energy ray before forming the common electrode. 
     
     
       3. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy ray is allowed to pass through the common electrode, and applied to the common layer after forming the common electrode. 
     
     
       4. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of forming a sealing film on the common electrode,
 wherein the energy ray is allowed to pass through the sealing film and the common electrode, and applied to the common layer after forming the sealing film. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the energy ray is applied through a mask, and 
 wherein the mask has a pattern that allows the energy ray to pass above the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes with the avoidance of the energy ray from passing therethrough above the plurality of pixel electrodes. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of forming a mask layer that prevents the energy ray from passing therethrough above the organic electroluminescent film,
 wherein the energy ray is applied through a pattern of the mask layer, and 
 wherein the pattern of the mask layer allows the energy ray to pass therethrough above the areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes with the avoidance of the energy ray from passing therethrough above the plurality of pixel electrodes. 
 
     
     
       7. An organic electroluminescent display device, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a plurality of pixel electrodes that are disposed on the substrate; 
 an insulating layer that is disposed in areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes so as to rest on ends of the respective pixel electrodes; 
 an organic electroluminescent film that is disposed on the substrate with the inclusion of a common layer which continuously covers the plurality of pixel electrodes, and the insulating layer; and 
 a common electrode that is disposed over the organic electroluminescent film, 
 wherein the insulating layer has an upper surface with a concavo-convex shape having a plurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions, 
 wherein the common layer includes an upper portion that rests on the respective convex portions of the concavo-convex shape, and a lower portion that rests on the respective concave portions thereof, and 
 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are offset vertically form each other, and at least parts of the upper portion and the lower portion in a thickness direction are discontinuous from each other, and a thickness of the common layer is partially thinned to increase an electric resistance. 
 
     
     
       8. The organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the respective parts of the upper portion and the lower portion in the thickness direction are continuous to each other. 
 
     
     
       9. The organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are separated from each other. 
 
     
     
       10. The organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein bottom surfaces of the plurality of concave portions are arrayed along one plane, and 
 wherein upper surfaces of the plurality of convex portions are arrayed along another plane. 
 
     
     
       11. The organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein bottom surfaces of the plurality of concave portions are arrayed along one convex curve, and 
 wherein upper surfaces of the plurality of convex portions are arrayed along another convex curve. 
 
     
     
       12. The organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes are arrayed in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, 
 wherein a planar shape of the respective pixel electrodes is elongated in one direction with a long axis and a short axis, 
 wherein in the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction, respective short sides along the short axis are adjacent to each other, 
 wherein in the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other in the lateral direction, respective long sides along the long axis are adjacent to each other, and 
 wherein the plurality of concave portions and the plurality of convex portions in the insulating layer are formed in areas between the adjacent long sides with the avoidance of areas between the adjacent short sides. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device, comprising the steps of:
 preparing a substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed; 
 forming an insulating layer in areas between the respective adjacent pixel electrodes so as to rest on ends of the respective pixel electrodes; 
 forming an organic electroluminescent film on the substrate with the inclusion of a common layer that continuously covers the plurality of pixel electrodes and the insulating layer; and 
 forming a common electrode on the organic electroluminescent film, 
 wherein the insulating layer has an upper surface with a concavo-convex shape having a plurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions, 
 wherein the common layer includes an upper portion that rests on the respective convex portions of the concavo-convex shape, and a lower portion that rests on the respective concave portions thereof, and 
 wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are offset vertically from each other, and at least parts of the upper portion and the lower portion in a thickness direction are discontinuous from each other, and a thickness of the common layer is partially thinned to increase an electric resistance. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the step of forming the insulating layer having the upper surface with the concavo-convex shape comprises the steps of: 
 providing an insulating material; and 
 giving the concavo-convex shape to the insulating material by nanoimprint. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the step of forming the insulating layer having the upper surface with the concavo-convex shape comprises the steps of: 
 providing the insulating material to cover the plurality of pixel electrodes; and 
 partially removing the insulating material from above at least a center portion of the respective pixel electrodes after the step of giving the concavo-convex shape. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the step of partially removing the insulating material is conducted by at least one of photolithography and dry etching. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein in the step of giving the concavo-convex shape, the insulating material is recessed and thinned above at least the center portion of the respective pixel electrodes. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent display device according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the step of partially removing the insulating material is conducted by dry etching.